The Lede

National Mortgage Professional, Mar. 2, 2017--Phil HallMBA President and CEO David Stevens, CMB, said Carson would work to bolster real estate markets.

Washington Post, Mar. 2, 2017--Dion HaynesIn recent weeks, the mortgage rate has not followed typical patterns.

HousingWire, Mar. 2, 2017--Kelsey RamirezMortgage Specialists International announced it acquired a majority interest in Oklahoma-based Williams, Williams & McKissick, including its subsidiaries Williams & Williams Auctioneers and online real estate auction destination Auction Network.

Reuters, Mar. 2, 2017--Jason LangeThe case at the Federal Reserve for an interest rate increase in March has gained support and will be on the table when policymakers meet later this month, Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell said on Thursday.

National Mortgage Professional, Mar. 2, 2017--Phil HallThe delinquency rate for U.S. commercial real estate loans in commercial mortgage-backed securities reached 5.31 percent in February, up 13 basis points from January, Trepp reported.

Wall Street Journal, Mar. 2, 2017--Jeffrey Sparshott (subscription)The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to the lowest level in 44 years last week, more evidence of a healthy labor market.

Mortgage Daily, Mar. 2, 2017Residential loan originations during the final-three months of last year amounted to 1.7 million loans for $461 billion, said ATTOM Data Solutions.

Mortgage Daily, Mar. 2, 2017--Sam GarciaDuring January, conforming fixed rates on purchase-money loans averaged 4.37 percent, the Federal Housing Finance Agency reported.

HousingWire, Mar. 2, 2017--Brena Swanson"The independence of a consumer watchdog is very much worth fighting for," Cordray told CNBC.

Mortgage Daily, Mar. 2, 2017Deterioration in office loan performance droved delinquency on securitized commercial real estate loans to an 18-month high.

MBA Education presents a new webinar, Real-Time Demand: Considerations on Mortgage Automation, on Wednesday, Mar. 8 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET.

MBA Education hosts a webinar, Special Purpose National Bank Charters for Fintech Companies, on Thursday, Mar. 9 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET.